I see that the ADBA website has a protest form which sends an email to the Australian minister involved. I trust he has been getting lots of mail recently! It also supplies his phone and fax numbers. "Too bad that two of my fellow countrymen couldn't get past immigration and appear at the event".

You may want to take a look at this feature on a friend's car from Flint, Michigan. Great stuff! Click the link: White Punks on Nitro.

Virginia Top Alcohol Funny Car racer Bruce Mullins has debuted the latest drag racing site on the WorldWide Web. The site, Bruce Mullins Racing, highlights Mullins' racing program and his race car fabrication work. Fans of the beautiful "War Horse" Mustang can meet the Mullins Racing team and can check on team updates and results, car statistics, team history and the team's 2000 racing schedule. The site also includes booking information, a photo gallery of the War Horse Mustang and Mullins' former race cars, and a page highlighting team sponsors.

Please help us stop drunk drivers. Show your support by going to: Stop Drunks. For every person that goes to the website, we can potentially raise $3 (at no cost to you). Thanks.

I'm off to the TAC (Australian) Nationals in two and a half weeks. The new engine went well. With five passes under my belt, I think I'm in for a good try. I did: 9.10, 9.12, 9.09, 9.13 and 9.10. That's pretty good, eh? Do you know when you'll be back?

We were hoping you could our new website: Racers Finishing Touch, a crew uniforms business and Motorsports Unlimited, a complete fabrication service, from chassis to tin work. (Well known in the drag racing community). Just a link and a mention on your page would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, not sure if you already know of Drag Race Australia, but this is my brother's site and he may be interested in swapping links if you haven't already. Cheers.

Just a quick note of appreciation to you for all the laughs. Great site, etc., etc. As I know you love to support the underdog, and you love to see something diferent, can I just wish the European Top Methanol (Alcohol) racers: Rob Turner, Lex Joon, Micke Kagered, Lief Andreasson, and all the other euro's the best of luck, as they attempt to qualify for the Winternationals next month.

Just do us a favour guys, don't get to like it too much over there; we need you all back here for the FIA championship opener (at Santa Pod) at the end of May. Finally, a message to any other racers reading this, who can't manage the full NHRA tour: Why not come over to Europe and discover the FIA Drag Racing Championships? It is the best kept secret in the world of drag racing, and is going to be huge, so get in early. Just ask Gordie Bonin! Keep up the good work.

The point is that sportsman racing has no place at a major event. If you go see the Daytona 500 you will not be subjected to hours of slower cars. The NHRA is dying, their races are crapping out. Sportsman cars do not attract spectators. Tracks make little money from years of no spectator racing. Drag racing's growth in the 60's and 70's came from fuel cars and HEADS UP doorslammers. Handicap racing sucks and won't draw people. If you think tracks got built and improved so (people) with delay boxes can run brackets, think again. When the NHRA goes under, bracket (stuff) will survive; just don't expect much investment in tracks, etc.

As of today I will be finishing up at Lifestyle Australia and moving on to another role which I will be able to confirm soon. To the customers of Lifestyle thank you very much for your business. It has been great working with you. I will be leaving my accounts in the very capable hands of Kym Petterwood (Managing Director) and his Personal Assistant Melissa Thompson. They are great people and will do the utmost best for you. Please give them a call to touch base and say hello. Thanks and best wishes.

Recently a routine police patrol parked outside a local pub. Late in the evening the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the car park for a few minutes, with the officer quietly observing.

After what seemed an eternity and trying his keys on five vehicles, the man managed to find his car, which he fell into. He sat there for a few minutes as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a fine dry night), flicked the indicators on, then off, tooted the horn and then switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches, reversed a little and then remained stationary for a few more minutes as some more vehicles left.

At last he pulled out of the car park and started to drive slowly down the road. The police officer, having patiently waited all this time, now started up the patrol car, put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and carried out a breathalyser test. To his amazement the breathalyser indicated no evidence of the man having consumed alcohol at all!

Dumbfounded, the officer said "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the police station, this breathalyser equipment must be broken." "I doubt it," said the man, "tonight I'm the designated decoy."

On a rather serious note, one of the most respected racers and generally nice guys of Division Six, Rick Johnson underwent surgery today for the removal of a brain tumour. This misfortune was discovered only a few days ago and the surgery was immediate. One of the questions Rick asked the surgeon was if he would be able to drive his race this year. The doctor's reply was, "You can drive your race car, just stay out of your pickup truck." All the best for a full recovery, Rick.

I thought that you would appreciate this, as we could add one for a lot of the people that work for a certain drag racing association. I can already picture them wearing the signs!

Stupid people should have to wear signs that just say, "I'm Stupid". That way you wouldn't rely on them, would you? You wouldn't ask them for anything. It would be like, "Excuse me . . . oops, never mind. I didn't see your sign".

It's like before my wife and I moved. Our house was full of boxes and there was a U-Haul truck in our driveway. My friend comes over and says, "Hey, you moving?" "Nope. We just pack our stuff up once or twice a week to see how many boxes it takes. Here's your sign."

A couple of months ago I went fishing with a buddy of mine; we pulled his boat into the dock, I lifted up this big 'ol stringer of bass and this idiot on the dock goes, "Hey, y'all catch all them fish?" "Nope - Talked 'em into giving up. Here's your sign."

I was watching one of those animal shows on the Discovery Channel. There was a guy inventing a shark bite suit. And there's only one way to test it. "Alright Jimmy, you got that shark suit on, it looks good. They want you to jump into this pool of sharks and you tell us if it hurts when they bite you." "Well, all right, but hold my sign. I don't want to lose it."

Last time I had a flat tire, I pulled my truck into one of those side of the road gas stations. The attendant walks out, looks at my truck, looks at me, and I SWEAR he said, "Tire go flat?" I couldn't resist. I said, "Nope. I was driving around and those other three just swelled right up on on me. Here's your sign."

We were trying to sell our car about a year ago. A guy came over to the house and drove the car around for about 45 minutes. We get back to the house, he gets out of the car, reaches down and grabs the exhaust pipe, then goes, "Wow, that's hot!" See? If he'd been wearing his sign, I could have stopped him.

I learned to drive an 18-wheeler in my days of adventure. Wouldn't ya know I misjudged the height of a bridge. The truck got stuck and I couldn't get it out no matter how I tried. I radioed in for help and eventually a local cop shows up to take the report. He went through the basic questioning. OK. No problem. I thought sure he was clear of needing a sign, until he asked, "So, is your truck stuck?" I couldn't help myself! I looked at him, looked back at the rig and then back to him and said, "No, I'm delivering a bridge. Here's your sign."

Thank you for keeping a link to our page: Hawaiian Fire Department, Jet Powered Fire Truck. We have moved our page to: Jet Fire Truck. Again, we thank you here at Hawaiian Eagle Jet Show.

We all know that it isn't for lack of effort or enthusiasm that the esteemed owner of said vehicle isn't running it. Great background for the picture -- is this at Ken's place? I keep looking for koala bears or 'roos running around. Now I always forget, it's racing season downunder right now, right? So, do you think its possible that it will be running at the beginning of next season (i.e., late 2000)?

I need crew members for this year, so if you're bored, maybe flying back and forth to New Mexico sounds better than flying back and forth to the other side of the world (no cracks allowed about where the heck New Mexico might be!).

Thanks for support of my post on Cackling Pipes. As for (Terry) Agland (ANDRA Divisional Director for New South Wales), I can only assume that he is taking the path of least resistance with the NSW Government and the ARDC (Australian Racing Drivers Club - lessee of Eastern Creek Raceway) in the hope that it is the quickest way back to drag racing in Sydney. While I can understand his viewpoint to a degree, i.e., anything is better than nothing, I don't believe he is thinking of the long term security of the sport in Sydney.

The Government's solution is just another patch job which will come unglued again a couple of years after it commences, as has happened in Sydney for as long as I can remember. I think now is the time for drag racers in Australia with the support of ANDRA to make a stand. Why should we continue to accept the perception put forward by circuit racing groups that we are just a side entertainment to their sport to be assisted, sucked dry or dumped at their convenience.

Track ownership equals power. If we don't own or manage the track we have no control of our future or even if we have a future at all. The current owners of Willowbank Raceway learned that lesson a long time ago and the sport in South East Queensland has never looked back since. The current situation at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney looks unwinable for drag racing even if it gets a parallel strip. It will always be a compromise arrangement where the circuit racers hold all the cards.

So who says we have to play their game? Is this the only piece of suitable land around Sydney? I live in the Queensland capital of Brisbane and I am 80 kms (50 miles) from Willowbank Raceway. The track draws as many spectators from outside Brisbane as it does from the capital itself. The smaller city of Ipswich, just outside Brisbane, has adopted the nearby Willowbank as its own and promotes it constantly with great success. They even have a member on the board of management and vice versa. Sydney is surrounded by smaller cities which I'm sure would jump at the chance of having a job-creating world class facility in their area.

Who in their right mind would drive a Top Alcohol Dragster while the disinterested owner held onto the steering butterfly in the control tower. You've got some experience in this area Bob. What do you reckon?

Hi Bob. I have a functional, but minimal first page up at Motorsport Underground. I've added a link to Northern Thunder. (Just to demonstrate what a web newbie I am, I was proud that the link worked).

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Seeing as how I don't seem to have any time to update my own site I thought that I would drop you a line and let you do what you will with it. You know all about our dramas with the car at Calder in December, but since then we drove the rig back up to Sydney where we did a tear down and found nothing wrong. Good news.

We also had Rod Andrews of Rod Andrews Race Cars in Sydney help us out with the rear suspension. Our burnouts and shut down were all over the place. He started work on a sway bar and we headed off to the (Canberra) Summernats on January 6th to 9th. A bizarre show that I'm glad I saw but would never go back to. Yobbos! Every drunken rev-head in Oz was there and we had to have security escort us out one night.

From there we went to Wagga Wagga for a display on the 11th to try and help the local club get a track there. We think we did alright and had TV, radio, and newspaper interviews. I was a celebrity in Wagga for a day. Very different, but generally, a nice side effect of being here from another country is the tremendous interest in the car shown by the locals.

From Wagga we drove back to Sydney and had Rod put the sway bar in and set up the rear end. The same day we started out for Willowbank and got there in time for some testing on Friday. We set up and got rained out. Race day was rained out too, so we packed up and headed back to Calder.

We had better luck this time and got the car to qualify 7th in Comp Eliminator with a 7.5-second run. That's still .60 seconds off the index but I was thrilled, considering it was the 4th full pass on the car! We ran Peter Kapiris' Top Doorslammer in the first round and despite a .430 light to his .460, he blew past me at half track and I was outa there! Still, we ran a 7.60 with no changes (air got worse) and showed consistency. We are all quite pleased actually, knowing that there is lots left in the tune up and we haven't even started on the clutch yet (it's way out).

I'm having some photos sent to me in Perth and I'll try to get them scanned so I can e-mail them. Having a great time. The weather is here and wish you were beautiful.

If you haven't heard the dates already - we have posted the confirmed National (United Kingdom) Top Alcohol Championship Rounds and the European (FIA) Championship Rounds. If all's well we intend competing at all the UK rounds this year!

NOTE: All temperatures in fahrenheit

G'day Bob. Well you can read about the latest slanging match about the Western Sydney Motorplex on the News page (at Cackling Pipes); not good in my book. I'm still waiting to hear something on Canberra. Alan Jones has not come back to work until this week I think.

Well, we have had a ordinary summer here in Sydney, and looking at race reports, so are most of the other states. However, the sun came out last week, cooked us, and made us wonder why we were complaining when it was cooler, although 32 (C) at 11pm is pushing it.

We had this Virus and NORTON killed it but be careful everyone and I don't know how we got it but we got it today. So READ this carefully.

Virus Name: W32/NewApt.worm
Date Added: 12/15/99
Virus Characteristics: This worm has been reported to AVERT in several countries during the week of December 13, 1999. The file may be received by email with a size of 69,632 bytes. The worm arrives by email and depending on if the email application supports HTML email body content or not, one of two messages is displayed. If HTML is supported, the message content looks like this:

If the email client does not support HTML, the email message will have this content:

he, your lame client cant read HTML, haha. click attachment to see some stunningly HOT stuff

The email contains an attachment of a randomly selected name from the following list:
baby.exe    bboy.exe    boss.exe    casper.exe    chestburst.exe
cooler1.exe    cooler3.exe    copier.exe    cupid2.exe    farter.exe
fborfw.exe    goal.exe    goal1.exe    irngiant.exe    g-zilla.exe
irngiant.exe    hog.exe    monica.exe    panther.exe    panthr.exe
party.exe    pirate.exe    s.exe    saddam.exe    theobbq.exe    video.exe

Please note that the file is not a "messagemates" game program and is not related to the web site listed in the email message! Messagemates.com has issued a notice about this also on their web site at this location:
Messagemates

There is no icon associated with this 32 bit file other than the one associated with command line executables such as COMMAND.COM. If this worm is run, a "dummy" error message is displayed with the text:

The dinamic link library giface.dll could not be found in the specified path (list of directory names)

The list of directory names are taken from they system environment variable "path" which is set in AUTOEXEC.BAT in Windows 9x and also configurable in Windows NT through the control panel. Note the misspelling of the word "dynamic".

The machine is then checked for the installation of MS Outlook Express. If found, two files are written in the c:\windows folder:

mma. - contains a listing of email addresses
mmail. - contains the directory of MS Outlook Express

The list of email addresses is captured by checking all folders in Outlook Express for email messages received! A file is then saved to the Windows folder and the registry is modified to load the file at the next Windows startup with a command line option of "/x". For example, if the executable "chestburst.exe" is run, the registry entry would look like this on a Windows 95 system:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Run tpawen = c:\windows\chestburst.exe /x

On the next Windows startup, the file is loaded. When the worm loads into memory, it waits for an unspecified amount of time and then sends an email message to one of the listed entries from the file "mma." with the format mentioned at the beginning of this description.

While the worm is active on Windows 9x system, the following DLLs are implemented:

When an email application such as MS Outlook is in use, the additional DLL loaded is TAPI32.DLL. At this time, AVERT is analyzing the distribution method for this worm. Strings within the executable suggest that it uses information stored in the file "prefs.js" which is a reference to Netscape.

Thanks for the follow-up. No, there is no problem with Bill and I, which is the reason for me writing you and the other internet guys. I wanted to let all know what the reason was. I will be helping Bill on the first few outings (transition time, etc.).

My biggest regret regarding the above situation is that I have been piloting the OLD TIMER through all the problems, and now, as of the end of last year, the 'Cuda is running in the 7.40 to 7.50 zone. Now, I'll miss my chance to get that thing to get up and dance. Waaaaaa!!

Regarding the Lion Heart. It is a 454, injected, running on Methanol, with a powerglide. Runs very consistent 8.80's and low 8.90's. My partner and I bought it, and changed it to run the new HOT ROD class. Which I'm sure you will appreciate: pre 1963 cars, NO electronics whatsoever. It's a fun class. Foot to the metal etc., etc.

As far as R.A.D. (Racers Against Drugs): I'll write you about it in a day or two. It is quite a thing. Last year, I did 43 presentations to mainly east end elementary schools. Very busy guy I am. Ta for now.

Another link for you. Aren't you glad, hahaha.

Saskatchewan International Raceway - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The Funny Car on the homepage is Glenn Whitehead's; the car I'm involved with.

Bob Please post this. Thanks, Dean, SpeedZone Magazine.

Just heard that Ron Houniet and one other Canadian Rider were denied entry into Australia, (because of Club Colours). OZ Immigration feel they will be a threat to the safety of their people. All the details are available at dragbike.com.. There is an e-mail adress and phone number where everyone can put in a protest. They are: Mr. Ruddock  or Mr. John Ryan. His phone number (from North America) is: 011-61-2-6264-1765.

Please post this so as many people as possible can protest. Thanks, Dean.

Just a short note (release) to fill you in on what's happening with Bill Visser's Old Timer. Feel free to call me if there is anything you want to ask, not mentioned below.

Long time driver for Bill Visser's "Old Timer" 'Cuda, Terry McHardy, will be replaced for the year 2000 by Glen Freeman. Glen, of blown Ferrari fame, will come on board with something Visser has been without for years -- money and spare parts.

Terry will hang around to assist in the transition. He'll then busy himself with his "Lion Heart" ('23-T) Roadster, Racers against Drugs, and maybe, piloting something else.

There you go Bob. Chop it up to suit.

It has been about a month since I last checked into your site, and what do I see? A comment about the great party in West Palm Beach: "Automess". I love your thinking, man. I managed to find my way into that spectacle to do some photography in conjunction with the editorial from our NR editor, Wrenchski. While wandering around trying to figure out why this event seemed screwed up, I had a funny thought enter my cranial cavity. So I take off to find Ski, and when I did, I pitched to him my idea for a title to his upcoming story; you guessed it: "Automess 2000". Needless to say, it was a bad deal; one that should only be allowed once every 1000 years. I guess the promoter wasn't Y2K compliant.

Another tidbit from another Soap Opera. Early this week while boarding a connecting flight in Atlanta, who should walk on board and sit right behind me, but Don Schumacher. We looked at each other with a "I know you, what are you doing here" look on our faces. He shared some good, behind the doors info, on the Exide deal and other goodies. And all I can say, Schumacher handled this deal with tremendous grace in front of the media. The reasons why this happened, and the reasons why Exide reconsidered? Don did share some specific details, although I am in no position to quote him. But he did say that after they (Exide) looked at all of the details, it was in Exide's best interest to reconsider.

Since it has been a while since we lasted e-talked, I decided to step back from my alky funny car program and sell off the stuff. Then a few months ago I was approached by a couple of friends with an idea to pool parts and efforts to run both an alky f/c, and an unblown, injected alky altered. Wrenchski will be helping with a bio/build up in progress that will be out on NR before too long. Catch ya later.

Don't worry about it. You said what you thought was right and you have to respect a man that will do that. I hate yes men and people that will go along with the crowd. Say what is on your mind any time that you want to. I might learn something from one of your posts. Take it easy and have fun.

You're just JEALOUS because the voices only talk to me!
Wheeler's Home Page

I was just afraid that all those hot, hot rod babes might melt the hard drive, or flash the monitor, or split the 'A' drive, or, or . . . Now, let's go Drag Racing!

Yeah, interesting comparison: Bray - Force. I know he's got the highest profile of any drag racer in the USA; therefore the world. Victor would have the same profile Down Under. However, I get the feeling from reading US chat rooms that people think he has sold out (John Force). People either love him or hate him. He's become such an indominatable force that people expect him to win with his huge budget/crew.

Victor, on the other hand, is still very much the people's racer. At home at a corporate function, but really at home at events like the Summernats, where he is worshipped. It also might have something to do with the car he drives. I know what a '57 Chev looks like. I don't know what next year's Mustang/Camaro Funny Car bodies look like! Oh well. By the way, I'm a huge Force fan. Later.

HEY BOB!!! Your 'Northern Thunder' site is gonna set off the fire extinguishers! Now, lets go Drag Racing!

Yeah, the Summernats really goes off. For the benefit of your overseas (read: local) readers, the Aussie Summernats is our version of the Street Machine Nationals held over New Years' weekend. Big crowds, lots of cool big hp cars, girls, beer, etc. etc. Quite a few drag cars this year also. It was good to see Jim Read although I can't understand picking him for a burnout display.

Jim's not exactly the Dean Skuza of burnouts. Then again, a Top Fuel car isn't a big-block Camaro. It was great to hear/smell nitro again. It was funny; JR did a little smokey and I'm like, yeah, whatever, then he backed up, turned on the 2nd pump and did it again. HEY YA!! That put a smile on my dial!!

Anyway mate,I could take up more space for hours! Cheers. By the way, it was 38 (C) today........

Hi Bob. I was just going through your site and came across the Aussie Drag Babes photo gallery. I was wondering if would you like some new photos of some fine young ladies from Adelaide.

I have also enclosed a pic of Steve Harker hitting the wall at AIR on the 15th of January, if it's of any use to you. I also have some photos of the other Top Alcohol cars if you would like them.

Keep up the good work...

Hello, I'm a world race collector and is it possible to receive an autographed picture of your team?

Bob, as you have reported, the first round of the New Year Series was rained out. I entered the Drag Racing School car so we could "fly the flag" at this race. Scott Bennett was a student a few school sessions ago and did very well at the school. After the school he approached me and wanted to learn more. He had no experience but wanted to learn. He lives nearby and is a sponge for information about drag racing.

I put in place a detailed, calculated plan for him to learn each step. He has been coming to the shop each day after work, showing up about 4:30 and working until about 10:00 pm. I taught him the basics in engine assembly and how to do cylinder heads. So far he has done three sets of cylinder heads and assembled three engines. Scott assembled and installed the engine that is in the DRS car now.

Last Saturday I decided he needed a ride in the car so instead of me driving the car I put him in the seat. Too bad it rained as we were looking for a a good night; at the least we were going to have some fun. Mike Hind is now helping us each night as well and he too is going through the "program". The DRS car is leased for the next three test and tunes but not for the next race .... I wonder who will be driving then.

Below is a photo of Scott at the Drag Race School. Click on the pic for the full-size view.

Graeme Frawley debuted his new KLRC car last night. It is dead set gorgeous; he has done a great job of finishing and assembling it. If you get a chance, ask him how he likes driving it compared to his old car. I will have photos of it soon. I would have had some already except for the rain Saturday night. I saw Tom Coonan's crash at Willowbank. It was a beautiful car in an ugly crash.

Hey Bob, just a quick one to maybe give you some early info. Just got off the phone to Brewy and found out he top qualified with a 5.79 at about 240, only to lose to Phillips in the final when it dropped a cylinder and ran a 5.94. Still not a bad effort with a new car and engine combo. Anyway, best of luck and all the best mate. See ya soon (I wish) but hear from you soon(er) with any luck.

Great Web Page guys! Just wondering what type of valve springs you run (titanium or steel). Good luck on this season.

John Schostalo - Advanced Titanium Products

Hey Bob: Take the test to see if your ass is too small. Check it out.

Hi Bob . . . I'm just lounging about and haven't done a darn thing on the car or truck. WINTER SUCKS! I do have some new plans for a new car this year though . . . have to see how $$$ goes. Otherwise same old stuff.

I think I may send that Kurt pic into the ND photo contest . . . I never noticed all the girls had such sour faces as I snapped it . . . I guess Miss Winston distracted me?

Have you heard any stuff about an IHRA track being proposed for this area? I have heard something recently about a Mt. Vernon area one (Sedro Wooley proposal of several years ago?). But this guy in Alberta says no, it is closer to Vancouver but he doesn't know the area well. Hmmmmmmm . . .

Drag racing. Who is it for? Who wants to see it? What is it to you? Auto racing mean anything today? What makes NASCAR successful?

I see that you and I are on the same page. I have lots of questions but few answers. I'll put some thoughts down in the next day or so and we can discuss them.

No worries Bob. Sorry to hear about the miserable weather on your side of the world. It's a balmy 39 deg C (102 F) forecast for today. It's been the hottest all season this last week; up around the high 30's every day. C-ya mate, Greggsy.

Howzabout this for enjoying the SPOILS of victory? Taken at Seattle's NorthWest Nationals in 1999. Everyone seems to be enjoying the 'atmosphere' in the Kurt Johnson winners circle!

The pictures of the BB/Gas dragster are from 1967. The front motored Top Fuel car (rear view at Speedway starting line) was taken in 1970. The car was owned by the Regals car club, which included my dad (George Sitko) and the driver (Phil Broderick) among others.

I first started running Top Alcohol in my dad's car when I was 17 years old, in 1978. I lost in the semi-finals of my first race to Brent Bramley at Spokane, then qualified 7th in a 16-car field at my first national event, the NHRA Fall Nationals (Seattle). I was beaten by Dale Armstrong in the second round.

The Arctic Traveller was conceived about 1980. Brad Ennis was the owner, and he got Brent Bramley to drive it. They ran a V6 Buick for a year or so without success, then put a KB in it in 1982. I watched Brent put it in the catch net at the top end of Sheppard Raceway (Calgary), flipping it end over end. Brad decided to go in a different direction at that point and asked me to drive his car the next year.

The invitation was fortunate, as my dad was about to move to the states to work on Ron Hodgson's Top Fuel (turbo) car, so I was on my own. I acted as tuner/driver/diver for the next three years, until Brad passed away in 1986. Along the way, Brad and I racked up a very impressive win/loss record, winning the 1985 AHRA Coors Nationals (Palmdale), the AHRA World Finals (Spokane), and thus the 1985 AHRA World Championship. I received permission from Brad's father to continue to use the Arctic Traveller name.

Feel free to correct the mistakes on the Drag Racing List. All of my cars were Arctic Chassis (except the original, owned by Brad Ennis, which was a Sherm Gunn car). Serge's quickest pass in 1999 was a 6.30 @ 219 mph. Steve's quickest last year was a 6.08 @ 228 in Calgary.

Bob, sorry I took so long to reply but we have been flat out on our new ride for this year. I don't know if you are aware, but I have taken possession of (Pommie) Steve Read's dragster. We have totally updated the car with big front wheels, carbon fibre front wings, four strut wing deal. Too much to list, but I think you get the drift.

Looking forward to seeing you over here racing. Anyway, got to go as we are loading the car to leave for Adelaide in a few hours (9 cars entered). Talk to you soon. A very tired Mark Brew.

Hi Bob, bad luck on missing the first meeting of Top Alcohol at Adelaide. Just a quick note to say hi and to tell you I met your fellow canuck Jim (Grant) at the Summernats with his awesome blown Hemi Dart. Looks great - sounds better.

Also, Jim Read did a Top Fuel burnout - the closest I've been to nitro for nearly a year! Maybe if I got some "nitro tears" and went to the government to beg for a dragstrip . . . The waiting is really upsetting me (and the rest of Oz I bet). Cheers.

Dear Bob, thanks for your note. START would like to apologise for the inconvenience you have been caused by this unsolicited spammer. START is a free web based e-mail service which does not in any way condone the activities of these people. I understand your reaction to this user's perverse behavior and assure you that we will be expelling the spammer from our servers traffic.

Thank you for letting us know that you have been affected, you have helped us to identify a most problematic issue.

Hi Bob. Just got "interneted" about a month ago. Checked out your site, it's great. What's happening with your car and racing here? Like the rest of us rich people I suppose (lack of funds). I've got my car at Wayne Daley's getting the chassis pre-loaded and I'm changing gear-box ratios to try and settle down the beast. Well, if you ever make it far enough north on one of your trips there will be a bed for you. Catchya at the races.

Harold Campbell -- Insanity Racing -- North Queensland

Hello, I was told that someone wrote a letter to you regarding anyone who is interested in starting a new superstreet association in the northwest to please contact them. I have been unable to locate the information on your website. If this is really the case, please email me with any information that you can provide. By the way: great website. It is on the top of my list of favorites.

I have attached a few photos of my dad's cars from the '60's. The first couple were run as a BB gas dragster, which held the Canadian record for a number of years (8.35 et). The last one is the same car, but with nitro in the tank. I think they were sorry that they went to Top Fuel, as they burnt up a lot of parts. Sorry for the size of the photos, but I scanned them at fairly high resolution because I was using them to make calendars.

Also, I don't know if you have checked out the Drag Race Canada website recently. Our race team has a profile in the Media profiles/team profiles section. They also published one of my articles in the Hotzone/DRC Commentary. I'm sending them a new article today.

Victor Bray believes the next round of the Australian Top Doorslammer Championship at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway on January 15th could well be pivotal in the defense of his title. Bray is attempting to secure an unprecedented fifth consecutive championship with his Castrol GP50 Chevrolet, but an early loss due to an electrical fault at the second round of the series last month sees him behind in the points.

Bray commented "We have to do well at Willowbank or it's going to be a scramble through the rest of the series to catch up. We're facing the strongest field of Doorslammers ever put together at the one event here and there'll be no second chances even in qualifying. The entry list looks like a who's who of the class. Not one big name is missing.

Maybe they think we're vulnerable at the moment. It looks like conditions are likely to be pretty hot too which doesn't suit the combination we normally run. We'll be spending two days on the track testing in the week before the event to try and come up with a hot weather tune up. If we don't come away with the win and the championship lead it won't be for lack of trying."

At least twelve of Australia's top drivers are expected to attempt to qualify into the eight car elimination field which will be the headline category at Willowbank Raceway's opening round of the Castrol New Year Series. Championship leader Dave Koop from Adelaide had initially not intended to contest the event but is now committed to defending his points advantage. Western Australians David Simpson and Robin Judd are currently third and fourth in the championship and will both be making the long trek as will fifth placed Peter Kapiris from Melbourne.

Local challengers will include Andrew Searle, Les Winter, Brett Stevens and Peter Gratz. The Sydney team of Lucky Belleri and Steve Stanic will again compete with their engine and transmission in Victor Bray's second car, the Castrol Customline. Bray has loaned them the car since the team's own Holden Commodore was severely damaged in an accident last year.

No, Santa did not bring me a new motor. I've been saving all the hard-earned cash from Eagle Boys pizza. But I'm happy to spend it though because it's going to rebuild the motor. It had a 60-thou bore in it; now it's resleeved and bored out 180-thou, with a longer rod and a custom billet head made for more h/p and a new Polar cluch which would have pulled a second off anyway. So I'm hauling butt now.

Hey there Bob, long time no write. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and an even better New Year. Things in Mt. Isa have been great so far, since the Winternationals a fair bit has changed. I picked up a new job (new house as well), which has been very busy the last few months, and not getting quieter yet.

The company even brought out "Ol' Smokey" for me; haven't done much to it yet; It's always the way though, no money and heaps of time, or no time and heaps of money. I see that you managed to survive Y2K OK; did you have a big night at all? Some of us had to work, or at least be present; one thing about those millennium bonus's, it was the easiest money I've ever had to "earn".

How has the dragster been coming along? Have you made any more plans for another assault upon our shores at all? I managed to get down to Calder Park the other week. It was supposed to be for a training course and I just happened to have the Friday night free.

It was only a street meet (one week short of the Victorian Championships - darn!). But the smell of methonal and the sound of high-revving V8's will last me for another six months. Calder's not a bad place (or Melbourne for that matter), but it was bloody cold down there though; you could easily pick the north west Queenslander in a pair of shorts, shirt and icicles hanging from most appendages.

Anyway, I must be off before the Boss catch's me; we should be back 'online' at home soon; till then the work internet access will have to do. C-ya mate and take it easy, Greggsy. North West of Nowhere Drag Racers Inc.

 
•  Use the expression: "sun break" and know what it means.
 
•  Know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
 
•  Know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
 
•  Feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
 
•  Stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal.
 
•  Believe that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it's not a real mountain.
 
•  Complain about Torontonians, as you sell your house for twice its value to one.
 
•  Know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon.
 
•  Know how to pronounce Coquihalla.
 
•  Think that swimming is an indoor sport or done on New Year's Day.
 
•  In winter, go to work in the dark and come home in the dark - while only working an 8-hour day.
 
•  Obey all traffic laws except "Keep right except to pass."
 
•  Never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
 
•  Are not fazed by "Today's Forecast: showers followed by rain"
 
•  "Tomorrow's Forecast: rain followed by showers"
 
•  Can't wait for a day with "Showers and sun breaks"
 
•  Have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
 
•  Can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you can't see through the cloud cover.
 
•  Say "the mountain is out" when it's a pretty day and you can actually see it.
 
•  Put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still wear your hiking boots and parka.
 
•  Switch to sandals when it gets above 60, but keep the socks on.
 
•  Have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
 
•  Think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.

You can definitely use the pics in your gallery. I was actually browsing through some past articles in your site, and noticed that Bryan Davidchuk had written you a few times. He had mentioned possibly sending you some photos, but I didn't see any displayed on your web page. Bryan and I only live six blocks apart, and he still drops by once in awhile to see what we're up to.

I do remember your car, but don't specifically remember racing against you. I wish that we could turn the clock back and do it again. I have tried getting into the Prince George shows, but they don't seem to have the funds. It's funny, because we really aren't asking for much more money now than we were in 1985 (we get about $1000 Cdn per run now, I think we were getting $600 then). We run across the same problem everywhere.

Our local track (Labatt Raceway) treats us well, booking us at least four times a year, but Calgary only brings us in for the Canadian Open. Saskatoon and Ashcroft don't have the funds for an alcohol show. I know that we haven't been unreasonable with any of the track operators, in fact we have run for less than our standard rate at various times to help them out. We even went up to Fort St. John last fall for some exhibition runs. They were impressed enough so that we should be up there again this year.

When Bryan and I sold off the Arctic Traveller, I had planned to set up a shop to repair and fabricate parts for other racers to fill my time. I have done that, but I am also still very active in racing. It seems like nobody will let me quit. It's kind of nice though, because I'm not spending too much of my own money on racing.

You may already know this, but immediately after we sold the car, I was talked into driving the Eat-More team's (Saskatoon) Top Alcohol Dragster for a year. The next fall, my brother Steve, Serge Dion and I built a brand new dragster for Martin Sjogren of Wetaskiwin; Steve drove it and Martin and I crew chiefed.

Last winter, Serge and I back halved and re-bodied the 1993 Sitko Racing TA/D, and also built a TA/Funny Car. Serge (who has been a crew member for Steve and I) had plans of running a funny car in a few years, but saw an opportunity to get involved with my dad and I on the dragster. He bought a motor from my dad, and we put it in the dragster for the 1999 season.

We had a very successful year; I won the opener in Edmonton, then Serge got licensed and drove the rest of the year. He won the Canadian Open in Edmonton, then the AHRA World Finals in Spokane. Unfortunately, there was a lot of work between those two races, as the parachutes didn't come out in the final round in Edmonton, and Serge rolled the car four times in the mud at the end.

We are not changing much for this year, we are just going to improve the ignition system and the clutch, and we are planning to go to the Mission points race for some "testing". We are tentatively booked for four races in Edmonton, and hope to get a few in Calgary. We are also thinking of going back to Spokane and maybe Seattle.

I have better photos if the ones I sent don't work out. I also have some old pics of my dad's front engined cars from the '60's. Best Regards, Ken.

Hi Bob, Daniel here. When are you coming back to Australia?

Ken (Lowe) put a new roll cage on the Junior Dragster, then the motor hydrauliced. . . It blew a one inch hole out of the piston; kicked out the bottom end of the rod and popped out the main bearing on the crankshaft. Ooooo . . . And it didn't miss wasting the cam as all the space junk fell through. That's about all for now. Catch you later.

Thought you would like some more photos of Canadian TAD's. The first one is the original Arctic Traveller, owned by Brad Ennis and driven by Kenny Sitko (1985). The second is the Arctic Traveller owned by Ken Sitko and Bryan Davidchuk, also driven by Bryan (1995). The third photo is the current Sitko Family Racing TAD driven by Serge Dion, owned by Ken Sitko (photo by Todd Young of Edmonton).

Bless your heart bud, I need all the support I can get, for the sport.

This Alky funny car ran out of Division Seven for several years and was owned and driven by Harley Griffith. They have not run since 1997; maybe mid-1998. Last I remember, Harley drove someone's A/FD for a couple of races. You might try to contact "Junkyard" Ed Vickroy on this. I believe he knows Harley.

I was performing a search on my web page and noticed a link from your site. Thanks very much, every hit helps. In turn, I will add a link to my site (for Northern Thunder) as well. Thanks again and good luck with your racing efforts.

I have the #3 Nanook AA/FA which I purchased from Joe Antonelli in '79 after he and Dave Hough parted company. The car has only three burnouts on it since the purchase and is for sale with all the spares that came with it. Any inquiries and serious offers can be sent to my attention. Thanks for your time and help and for your support of AA/FA's.

Bob, It was Harley Griffith who had the Evil, Wicked, Mean, and Nasty Top Alcohol Funny Car. He went to Japan with me on a two race promotional tour some time back and, yes, he could drive.

Have you ever watched two funny cars race on a track with puddles of water, and make it to the end without hitting a thing? Bret Williamson and Harley are two of the best (craziest) I have ever seen next to Pat Austin.

E-mail Pfister if you are curious about who sent this to you. He might tell you.

Sorry for the belated reply. Happy Holidays to you as well! I was a little preoccupied over Christmas as I flew to Portland on December 24th; bought Dan McGlone's truck and trailer and drove it back to New Mexico. I guess that means we are back in the racing business for 2000. Still haven't really got much done to prep the car and don't really expect to make any races until April.

Hope that 2000 is easier for you and that you are able to show them how it's done Down Under.